A Christmas Story, the Musical, Gets NYC Reading With Larsen, Bridges, Harrod, Golden
By Kenneth Jones
11 Dec 2008
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Annie Golden
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Gerald Goehring and Michael Jenkins will present an industry reading of the new musical, A Christmas Story, based on the Warner Brothers movie and humorist Jean Shepherd's novel "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash," Dec. 16-17 in Manhattan.
Already popular as a non-musical play in regional theatres, this new and separate song-filled stage version of the 1983 film features a book by Joseph Robinette (Charlotte's Web; Sarah, Plain and Tall) and music and lyrics by Scott Davenport Richards (A Thousand Words Come to Mind).
The movie source material is 25 years old this year, and is a beloved modern classic. "Ralphie, the mischievous, bespeckled boy, dreams of getting a Red Ryder BB-gun for Christmas," according to the musical's producers. "In the weeks before the big holiday, Ralphie and his friends get into all kinds of trouble — including encounters with a 'yellow-eyed' bully, a tongue stuck to lamp post, a bar of soap in the mouth, a garish leglamp and a Chinese Christmas dinner."
The reading cast of A Christmas Story includes Beau Bridges ("The Fabulous Baker Boys") as Jean/Older Ralph, Gregg Edelman (Wonderful Town) as Old Man, Liz Larsen (Starmites, Damn Yankees) as Mother, Dalton Harrod (Ace, the Musical) as Ralphie, Michael D'Addario (All My Sons) as Randy, Simon Pincus (Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas) as Flick, Henry Hodges (Mary Poppins) as Schwartz and Annie Golden (Xanadu) as Miss Shields. The ensemble features Chantylla Johnson, Lina Silver, Luke Marcus Rosen, Aaron D. Conley, Kelvin Moon Loh, Tom Aulino, Matt Wilson, Todd Alan Johnson, Jill Abramovitz, Jesmille Darbouze and Mimi Bessette.
A Christmas Story is directed by Eric Rosen (artistic director, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, and director of Clay), with James Sampliner (Mamma Mia!) serving as music director.
The production stage manager is Robert Bennett (American Buffalo, Nick and Nora). Kansas City Repertory Theatre is the regional theatre partner of A Christmas Story.
The performances are open to members of the industry by invitation only.
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